Gearless shift and freewheel construction for vehicles



May 24, 1932. 1,859,347

GEARLESS SHIFT AND FREEWHEEL CONSTRUCTION FOR VEHICLES M. F. SULLIVAN Filed May 20, 1931 2. Sheets-Sheet 1 Y 'l l 5" ATTOR Y y 1932- M. F. SULLIVAN 1,859,347

GEARLESS SHIFT AND FREEWHEEL CONSTRUCTION FOR VEHICLES Filed May 20 1931 k 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented May 24, 1932 sewer as v MICHAEL FRANCIS} SULLIVAN, OF NEW YGRK, Y.

GEAR/LESS S I-IIFT AND FREEVEZHEEL CONSTRUCTION FOR VEHICLES Application filed may 20,

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in a gearless shift and free wheel construction for automobiles and the like.

The invention has for an object the construction of a gearless shift which ischaracterized by a planetary transmissionelement forming a connection between a drlvmg and a driven element, and a foot pedal controlled resistance connected with the planetary trans mission element. 7

A still further object ofthis invention is to construct a planetary transmission element in the form of a drum having a transverse partition dividing it into two sections for housing of the gears whereby the bearing for the gears may be disposed in the partition as well as in thesides of the drum.

' A still further object of this invention is v to support the gearless shift upon the chassis of the' vehicle by the provision of support ele ments carrying bearingsthrough which the driving and the driven'element extends.

A still further object of this invention is to construct the foot pedal controlled resistance in the form of a cylinder having apiston and a bypass controlled by a pedal operated valve.

An important and most prominent object of this invention is the provision of adjustable means to control the acceleration of the planetary intermission element as the resistance is decreased. More particularly, it is proposed to provide an adjustable spring for automatically returning certain parts into initial positions upon release of the foot pedal.

A still further object of this invention is to arrange an adjustable plate upon theplunger uponthe pedalcontrolled valve and to proide two pedals of different mechanical ad vantages so that either one of the pedals may operatethe plunger to effect, a changein the resistance. 7 a

A still, further object of. this invention is the constructionof a gearless shift which is 1931. Serial No. 538,747.

tion, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more par ticularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a material part of this disclosure V Fig. 1 is a plan view of an automobile chassis provided with a gearless shift constructed according to this invention. I

Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view of the gearless shift.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2.

4 is an elevational view looking in the direction of the line 4& of Fig. 2. I

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detailed sectional view of the valve controlled resistance.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged elevational view looking in the direction of the line 66 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary enlarged elevational view looking inthe direction of the line 77 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 isan elevational view looking in the direction of the line 8'8 of Fig. 7

Fig. 9 is an enlarged sectional detailed view of the valve construction shown in Fig.5.

Fig. 10 is a sectional View taken on the line 1010 of Fig. 9. v

l The gearless shift, according to this in vention, is shown applied upon the chassis 10 of a, motor vehicle. A pair of spaced trans.- verse straps 11 are parallel to each other and connect attheir ends upon the side members of the chassis. The driving shaft 13 from the motor 12 on the vehicleextends into a'bearing 1e, upon one of the straps 11. A driven shaft- 151 extends, through a bearing 16 upon the other-strap 11 and connects with the transmission shaft 17 of-the vehicle.

A planetary drum 18 is rotatively mounted with its axis coaxial with the shafts 11 and lowhichin turn are in alignment with each other. A transverse partition 19 is'eXtended across the inside of the planetary drum 18 and serves to divide it into two sections for housing planetary gears. A'bearing 20 is mounted in the partition 19 for receiving the we ends of. the, driver shaft 12 and the driven e inal position.

shaft 15. While these sliaftsextend into the same bearing they are not connected with 'each' other. -A large gear 21 1S fixed upon the shaft 12 within one of the sections of the E drum'and another large gear 22 is fixed upon -the driven shaft within the other section of side of the planetary drum 18 and is freely mounted upon the shaft 15. This gear connects up with the resistance in the form of a gear 26 in mesh therewith and upon a crank shaft 27 rotatively mounted in standards 28 from a cylinder 29. This cylinder is mounted'upon one of the transverse straps 11. A connecting rod 30 connects with the crank and with a piston 31 within the cylinders. A bypass pipe 32 connects the opposite ends of the cylinder to allow a liquid 33 which completely fills the cylinder to pass to opposite sides of the piston. A slide valve .34 is mounted upon the bypass 32 and is normally urged into an open position by a spring 35. The bypass 32 is provided with a valve body portion 36 through which the valve 34 slidably passes. Also, the bypass 32 is provided with an open extension portion 37in which the spring 35 is disposed.

The spring 35 is adjustable for the purpose of extending the valve 34 back into its initial condition at various speeds. Theadjustment is accomplished by a disc longitudinally slidable within the body portion 37 reason of having lugs 51 engaging longitu'dinal internal grooves 52. A; threaded member 53 is provided with a flange 54 rotatively supported by a body member 55 which is attached upon the end of the body 37.

- The stud 53 has a threaded portion which thread-edly engages through the disc 50 and hasan external head 56 .so that it may be manually turned. Upon turning of the head 56, the disc 50 will be moved to various positions and hold the spring 35 at various ten- Consequently, after the valve 34 is sions. depressed for adding resistance to cause the drum 18 to stop or slow down in its motion,

and then the valve is released,the tension of the spring 35 will determine the length of time that it takes the valve to assume its orig- The original position is the one in which no resistance is oflered so that the drum 15 is free to rotate at maximum capacity. 7

Instead of controlling the action-of valve 34 by tensioning spring 35, a dash pot alfrangement 36' is provided over the valve 34 to produce a controlled retarding action. The

dash pot 36 consists of a pluralityofaperv tures 57 formed in the body portion;-36,a'nd a rotary sleeve 58 around the said valve body The dash pot arrangement maybe used independently from the spring adjustment for controlling the length of time during which the valve assumes its original position after the foot pedal is released. If it is desired to increase the length of time for returning the valve 34 to normal position, sleeve 58 is so rotatedas to have only a limited number of apertures in alignment with the annular groove 59. This adjustment will start the car at a slower rate than if all the apertures.

57 are in alignment with the annular groove,

An adjustable member 39 is mounted upon the extended end of the plunger of the valve 34 and in the path of motion of foot pedals 40 and 40. respectively. These pedals are pivotally mounted upon standards 41 and 42. located at different distances from the valve.

ice

The pedals extend over across the top of the adjustable member 39. Pegs '43 upon the ad justable member 39 form bearing points whereon the foot pedals may bear. Slots 44 are formed in the sides of the member 39 which'has in its bottom a dove-tailed groove engaging upon a dove-tailed tongue 45 on the plunger valve 34. Studs 46 project from the tongue 45 through the slots 44 and lock nuts 47 upon the studs serve to clamp the adjustable member 39 as desired. This member may be moved one way or the other as indicated by the dot and dash lines 48 so as to be out of the path of motion of one or the other of the bell cranks 40, 40".

In operation, the driver of the vehicle can operate the vehicle without the necessity of shifting. Normally, the spring 35 urges the plunger so that the valve 34 is open to allow passage of the liquid from one side to the other side of the piston 31-. Then the gear 26 is free to rotate and does not offer any resistance to the operation of the drum 18.

Consequently, as the motor 12 operates, its

shaft 13 will rotate thegear 21 which will will be imparted to the shaft 15 and the auto mobile will be at a standstill.

The operator of the vehicle may depress one or the other of the foot pedals, 40, 40 so as to close the valve 34 to any desired degree. This willcause resistance to thetrayel of liquid from one side to ,the other side of the piston, which resistance will hold the .drum 18 to variousdegrees so that its speed are reduced down to small movements, of the plunger valve. hen the control ofthe car is not to be as fine, the operator operatesthe pedal 40". Whenit is so desired, the adjustable member 39 may be moved to one or the other of the adjustable positions indicated by the dot and dash lines 48 sothat one or the other of the foot pedals 40, e0 maybe used exclusively. This will necessitate the driver of the car to use the specific pedal.

The acceleration under which the drum 18 moves to its full speed condition, is controlled by the action of the spring WVhen the spring is adjustedto varioustensions as allowed by the stud 53, it will be capable. of returning the valve 34 back to its initial condition in various predetermined intervals of time. It should be borne in mind thatas the pedal is depressedfor closing thevalve 84, resistance is built up which causes a slowing down of the rotations of the, drum 18 and a consequent transmission of rotations from the driver shaft tothe'driven shaft. Then,

when the pedal is released, the deceleration of the driven shaft will bear a directrelation to the tension of the spring 35.

The advantage of the partition 19 within the drum 18 resides in the-fact that it forms a sturdy supportfor bearings of the shaft 12 and of the shaft 15. Also, the partition forms a support for theshafts 23.

A gearless shift and tree wheel construction for vehicles, constructed according to this invention makes it possible to automatically control the acceleration of a car from starting position to maximum speed byremoving ones foot from the. foot pedal which engages the controlling valve. In addition, the customaryfoot pedal may be used for applying the brakes of a car. These pedals will eliminate the use of shiftv gears and provide effective control of wide scope.

It is to be understoodthat the foot pedal controlled resistance maybe of any piston and cylinder arrangement as ngas the bypass is controlled by a suitable pedal operated valve.

While I have shownand described thepreferred embodiment-of my intention, it isito be un e s t t 1 Q0 e li i {myself to the precise construction herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modifications coming within'the scope fof the invention as defined in the appended'claimsf Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters ,Patent is i v 1. A gealjless shift and free wheel construction for automobiles an d the like, comprising a driving element, a driven element for con- 1 18Ci310IlW1i/l1 tl16 transm1ss on of the vehicle, a

planetary tr ansmissionelement forming a connection between the driving and the driven elementand having a drum, aresistanc e con- .ncted with the planetary transmission element, foot pedal means for varying said resistance from substantially zeroto an amount suff cient to hold said drum against turning upon depressionoi the foot pedal, and adjustable means for I automatically controlling the acceleration of said drum upon release of the foot pedal, comprising a dash pot adapted to retardthe acceleration of said drum, said dash pot CQn iS ing ofa main valve body,

a valve, apertures in said valve body, a sleeve around the valve body and a groove in said sleeve, ameans forilo'cking the said sleeve in adjusted position, comprising peripheral teeth formedion the ,valvebody, and means on thesleeve engaging said teeth. a

2. A gearless shift and free wheel construction for automobiles and thejlike, comprising a driving element, a driven. element for connection with the transmission otthe vehicle, a planetary transmission element forming a connection between the driving and the driven elementland .having a drum, a resistance connected with the planetary transmission element, foot pedal means for 1y controlling the acceleration of said drum upon release of the foot pedal, comprising a dash pot adapted to retard the acceleration of said drum, said dash pot consisting of a main valve body, a valve, apertures 1n sa1d valve element imposed between a drivingand driven element and a foot pedal controlled resistance connected withthe planetary transmission element, comprisinga cylinder with a vcontrolling bypass, a valve within the bypass and operated by a plunger, an adjustable member on saidyplungenand a pair of pedals w t .d fi 'reifi mechanica ewes t body, a sleeve around the valve'body and a V tively engageable against said adjustable member in one position of the adjustable member and 'individuallyengageable in another position.

, 4. A gearless shift and free wheel construction for automobiles and the like, comprising a driving element, a driven element for connection with the transmission of the vehicle, a planetary transmission element forming a connection between the driving and the driven element and having a drum, a resistance connected with the planetary transmission element, foot pedal means for varying said resistance from substantially zero to an amount sufficient to hold said drum against'turning upon depression of the foot pedal, and adjustable means for controlling the acceleration of said drumupon release of the foot pedal, comprising resilient means for reducing the resistance, and a control for adjusting the resiliency of said resilient means.

5. A gearless shift and free wheel construction for automobiles and the like, comprising a driving element, a driven element for connection with the transmission of the vehie foot pedal, comprising resilient means for re- 7 ducing the resistance, and a control for adjusting the resiliency of said resilient means, comprising a rotatively mounted stud connected with a longitudinal adjustment disc engaging against one end of the resilient element of the resilient means.

6. A gearless shift and free wheel construction for automobiles and the like, comprising a driving element, a driven element for connection with the tIiLIlSHlISSlOIl of the vehicle, a planetary transmlsslon element forming a connection between the driving and the driven element and having a drum, a resistance connected wlth the planetary transmission element, foot pedal means for varying saidfresistance from substantially Zero to an amount sufficient to hold said drum against turning upon depression of the'foot pedal, and adjustable means for automatically controlling the acceleration of said drum upon release of the foot pedal, comprising a dash pot adapted to retard thevacceleration of said drum. j V

7. A gearless shift and free wheel construction for automobiles and the like, comprising a driving element, a driven element for connection with the transmission of thevehi'cle,

'a planetary transmission element forming a connection between the driving and the driva sleeve around a rotary valve body and'a groove in said sleeve.

8. A gearless shift and free wheel construction for automobiles and the like, comprising a driving element, a driven element for connection with the transmission of the vehicle, a planetary transmission element forming a connectlon between the driving and the driven element and having a drum, a resistance connected with Y the planetary transmission element, foot pedal means for varying said resistance from substantially zero to an amount sufficient to hold said drum against turning upon depression of the foot pedal, and adjustable means for automatically controlling the acceleration of said drum upon release of thelfoot pedal, comprising a dash pot adapted to retard the acceleration of said drum, said dash pot consists of a main valve body, a valve, apertures 1n said valve body, a sleeve around a rotary valve body and a groove in said sleeve, a means for locking the said rotary in adjusted position.

9. A gearless shift'and free wheel construction for automobiles and the like, com prising a driving element, a driven element for connection with the transmission of the vehicle, a planetary transmission element forming a connection between the driving and the driven element and having a drum, a resistance connected with the planetary transmission element, foot pedal means for varying said resistance from substantially zero to an amount sufiicient to hold said drum against turning upondepressionof the foot drum upon release of. the foot pedal, comprlsmg a dash pot adapted to retard the acceleration of said drum, sald dash pot consists of a main valve body, a valve, apertures for connection with the transmission of the pedal, and adjustable means for automatically controlling the acceleration of said vehicle, a planetary transmission element forming a connection between the driving and the driven element and having a drum, a resistance connected With the planetary transmission element, foot pedal means for varying said resistance from substantially zero to an amount suflicient to hold said drum against turning upon depression of the foot pedal, and adjustable means for automatically controlling the acceleration of said drum upon release of the foot pedal, comprising a dash pot adapted to retard the acceleration of said drum, said dash pot consists of a main valve body, a valve, apertures in said valve body, a sleeve around a rotary valve body and a groove in said sleeve, a means for locking the said rotary in adjusted position, an auxiliary means for reducing the resistance comprising a resilient member, and a control for adjusting the resiliency of the said resilient means, said auxiliary means is located on one side of said valve, opposite the said dash pot.

In testimony whereof I have aflixed my sig- 3 nature.

MICHAEL FRANCIS SULLIVAN. 

